The Perfect image (1932) below is a generous gift from Rob Rothberg, who has a collection that Philip Larkin would envy and a sensibility that Larkin would (at least in its more historical moments) share.
This label always cheers me, because of the two figures (Arabic? Indian? Pre-Colombian?) at top who seem to be kneeling reverently, genuflecting if you will, to the shrine of Hot Jazz and Pop Music of the time. Or they may well be worshipping Electricity. I am also amused to find the title slightly elided or truncated: it was either I WOULD DO MOST ANYTHING FOR YOU or I WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR YOU, perhaps depending on the sincerity of the singer at the moment — but the ARC people had only so much space available on the label. So be it. A great song, courtesy of the under-praised Claude Hopkins and the far less-acknowledged Alex Hill. Bob Williams was, I believe, a trumpeter in Hopkins’ band.
Does anyone know the verse?
